OPDR and Team Lines to open new North Europe – Bilbao service

The Hamburg-based specialist carrier Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhederei (OPDR), a member of the Schulte Group and Team Lines, a subsidiary of the Belgian Delphis Group, have announced the launch of a new joint service from northern Europe to Spain.

As of mid-October, OPDR and Team Lines will offer weekly fixed-day sailings on the rotation Rotterdam, Bilbao, Felixstowe, Rotterdam.

The service will be launched on 11 October with a first southbound departure of the OPDR-operated 698 teu vessel OPDR CADIZ. The ship will be redeployed from the German shipping line’s Northern Europe to Canaries loop.

For the time being, it appears that – even though the two carriers announced a ‘joint’ loop – OPDR will be the sole vessel provider on the service whereas Team Lines only takes slots.

OPDR said it will offer all equipment types on the new route, including 45-foot pallet-wide high-cube containers and 45-foot pallet-wide high-cube reefers.